Visual Arts
It's easy to see why Santa Fe is one of the country's major art centers. The magnificent landscape and glorious light inspire artists of every genre. The city's unique multicultural blend also appeals to artists and to people who love to collect art.Santa Fe's long history with the visual arts stretches back more than a century, when European and American artists were drawn here by the region's natural beauty and native cultures. We've since evolved into a world-renowned art market featuring cutting-edge contemporary art by artists from around the world along with traditional painting styles and subject matter. Many Native American and Hispanic artists in Santa Fe continue to work with the tools and techniques of their ancestors, but others have taken off in new directions, blending tradition with new material.
Art is everywhere in Santa Fe. Canyon Road is one entire mile mostly made up of art galleries. Walk down any other downtown street, and you'll encounter dozens more. Santa Fe galleries have become famous for their Friday night art openings where crowds gather to meet the artists and enjoy the scene. The city has more than ten museums, four of them state-run, and they exhibit a wide variety of local and traveling exhibits each year along with their permanent exhibits. Innovative art centers add even more to the city's rich art life with a steady calendar of performances, exhibits and programs. Public art enhances our parks, monuments, buildings, city streets and even our buses.
Art and craft shows take place practically every weekend in Santa Fe, including the Santa Fe Society of Artists shows held around town from April through October. The Northern New Mexico Fine Arts & Crafts Guild's shows take place on Lincoln Avenue in early July and late September and in Cathedral Park in late September. The Santa Fe Artists Market has three venues for local juried artists with shows year-round. Their Winter Show is held every Saturday from January 14th through March at Sanbusco Center. The Railyard Park show is held every Saturday beginning in April and goes through mid-December and their three Cathedral Park shows are held in early May, July, and October. Girls Inc. hosts an annual juried show the first weekend in August on the Plaza. You'll find amazing treasures at these shows and meet artists you probably can't find anywhere else.So many artists live in Santa Fe and in surrounding communities that they've joined together for annual open studio tours, held in communities where they live. These tours tend to draw crowds because they provide visitors with a chance to meet artists in their workspace and to buy art directly from the artists.
Spend just a little time here and you'll quickly see that art is the heart of Santa Fe.
Center for Contemporary Arts
1050 Old Pecos Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87505
The CCA serves as a vibrant regional gathering place for the exploration and presentation of diverse and challenging contemporary art forms and ideas through our interdisciplinary programs: film, visual arts, performance and educational outreach. CCA's cinematheque offers thought-provoking, art-house, full-length, and documentary films; and the visual arts exhibitions continue to surprise viewers with genre-busting art forms!
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival
215 W. San Francisco St. 202A
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
About Us
Our Story
In 2009, Santa Fe IFF was created by local entrepreneurial filmmakers responding to the growing need for a platform specifically promoting independent filmmakers and diverse audiences. The first annual Santa Fe IFF was a resounding success. In 2010 the Second Annual Fest screened 80 films over 6 days, including four Discussions with filmmakers and five After-parties at the most popular venues in Downtown Santa Fe. 2011 was a huge year for the Santa Fe IFF. Honorees included Academy Award Winners Kirby Dick, Tony Mark, and local filmmaker Alton Walpole. Awards were presented by Aviva Farber, Jon Hendry, and Wes and Mara Studi. Over 100 films screened at the 5 day event drawing nearly 2,500 attendees. The 2012 drew over 5,000 festival goers and honored Chris Eyre, Rudolfo Anaya, and Judy Blume. With two sold out screenings at the Lensic Performing Arts Center and Red Carpet Gala screening. The festival also organized an historic filmmakers brunch, bringing industry professionals and local filmmakers together for a discourse on the future of filmmaking in New Mexico. SFIFF has effectively extended the tourism season in Santa Fe into late October.
Mission Statement
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival is dedicated to bringing the best films the cinematic world has to offer to our thriving artistic community and growing audience. Our goal is to create a dialogue between filmmakers of diverse visions and cultures, to enrich our community through innovative experiences and economic opportunities, and to support a vibrant and sustainable filmmaking future in New Mexico by showcasing the latest talent in independent films both local and global.
Mission Statement
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival is dedicated to bringing the best films the cinematic world has to offer to our thriving artistic community and growing audience. Our goal is to create a dialogue between filmmakers of diverse visions and cultures, to enrich our community through innovative experiences and economic opportunities, and to support a vibrant and sustainable filmmaking future in New Mexico by showcasing the latest talent in independent films both local and global.










